Average Raise Of 5% In `86 Projected

Next year won`t be a banner year for salary increases, regardless of the employee`s job level, according to two surveys.

Sibson & Co. Inc. projects that top management can expect raises of about 5.3 percent in 1986. That is down from 5.7 percent this year.

Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby is predicting similar increases, with average raises of 5.2 percent. But, if merit raises are included, TPF&C says executives probably will get total increases of about 6.1 percent in 1986, down from 6.5 last year.

Sibson and TPF&C both are compensation consulting firms. The figures are from their annual salary surveys.

Sibson also projects figures for regions. In the North Central region, which includes Chicago, the company projects executive raises to 5.6 percent next year. TPF&C provides projections for specific cities, including Chicago. The company projects that executives here can expect average total raises, including bonuses, of about 5.8 percent.

Salaried workers will fare a little worse, both surveys indicate. Sibson is projecting 5 percent raises for these employees in 1986, down from 5.4 percent this year. TPF&C also projects 5 percent for next year, down from 5.3 percent this year. With merit raises added, TPF&C predicts a total raise of about 5.9 percent, off from 6.3 this year.

In the North Central region, Sibson projects that salaried employees will get 5 percent raises. TPF&C projects that Chicago salaried workers will get total raises of about 5.7 percent, including bonuses.

Hourly workers will get about 4.7 percent raises next year, down from 5.1 percent this year, Sibson says. TPF&C`s figures are 4.7 percent in 1986, off from 5.1 percent this year. With merit raises, TPF&C puts 1986 totals at 5.7 percent, lower than the 6.2 percent this year.

Raises for hourly workers in the North Central region are expected to be near 4.8 percent in 1986, Sibson says. TPF&C projects 5.4 percent raises for hourly workers in Chicago.